Claims:

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A sanitization compliance monitoring system for a health care
environment having patient beds, comprising: badges wearable by persons,
said badges having indicia representing a first-state indicating a
sanitary compliant condition of the person, and a second-state
representing an unsanitary state indicating the person's contact with a
second patient after contact with, and different from, a first patient,
said badges also having a wireless transmitter/receiver for communicating
an identification signal unique to a single badge, and the current state
of the badge; patient bed beacons, each associated with a different
respective patient bed, each bed beacon capable of wirelessly
communicating with said badges; dispenser beacons, each associated with a
sanitization dispenser, and having a transmitter/receiver capable of
wirelessly communicating with said badges; and wherein a dispenser beacon
causes a badge to change from the second-state to the first-state when
the person has performed a sanitization procedure at a sanitization
dispenser, and wherein a badge in a first-state changes to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to a second patient bed
beacon different from a first patient bed beacon at which the user was
previously located without having performed a sanitization procedure at a
dispenser during movement between the respective beds associated with the
first and second patient beds, and transmits a status signal indicating
such badge state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal.

22. A sanitization compliance monitoring system for a health care
environment having patient beds, comprising: badges wearable by persons,
said badges having indicia representing a first-state indicating a
sanitary compliant condition of the person, a second-state representing a
cautionary state indicating the person's contact with a first patient,
and a third-state representing an unsanitary state indicating the
person's contact with a second patient after contact with, and different
from, a first patient, said badges also having a wireless
transmitter/receiver for communicating an identification signal unique to
a single badge, and the current state of the badge; patient bed beacons,
each associated with a different respective patient bed, each bed beacon
capable of wirelessly communicating with said badges; dispenser beacons,
each associated with a sanitization dispenser, and having a
transmitter/receiver capable of wirelessly communicating with said
badges; and wherein a badge in said first-state changes to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed beacon,
and transmits a status change signal indicating such
first-to-second-state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal, wherein a badge in said second-state changes to
said third-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed
beacon different from the patient bed beacon which caused the badge to
change from the first-state to the second-state, and transmits a status
signal indicating such second-to-third-state change to the patient bed
beacon with the badge identification signal, and wherein a dispenser
beacon causes a badge to change from the second-state or third-state to
the first-state when the person has performed a sanitization procedure at
a sanitization dispenser beacon.

23. A method for monitoring sanitization compliance for a health care
environment having patient beds, comprising: providing badges wearable by
persons, said badges having indicia representing a first-state indicating
a sanitary compliant condition of the person, a second-state representing
a cautionary state indicating the person's contact with a first patient,
and a third-state representing an unsanitary state indicating the
person's contact with a second patient after contact with, and different
from, a first patient, said badges also having a wireless
transmitter/receiver for communicating an identification signal unique to
a single badge, and the current state of the badge; providing patient bed
beacons, each associated with a different respective patient bed, each
bed beacon capable of wirelessly communicating with said badges;
providing dispenser beacons, each associated with a sanitization
dispenser, and having a transmitter/receiver capable of wirelessly
communicating with said badges; changing the state of a badge from said
first-state changes to said second-state when located in a certain
proximity to a patient bed beacon, and transmitting a status change
signal indicating such first-to-second-state change to the patient bed
beacon with the badge identification signal; changing the state of a
badge from said second-state changes to said third-state when located in
a certain proximity to a patient bed beacon different from the patient
bed beacon which caused the badge to change from the first-state to the
second-state, and transmitting a status signal indicating such
second-to-third-state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal; and changing the status of a badge from the
second-state or third-state to the first-state when the person has
performed a sanitization procedure at a sanitization dispenser beacon.

24. A sanitization compliance monitoring system for a health care
environment having patient beds, comprising: badges wearable by persons,
said badges having indicia representing a first-state indicating a
sanitary compliant condition of the person, and a second-state
representing an unsanitary state indicating the person's contact with a
second patient after contact with, and different from, a first patient,
said badges also having a wireless transmitter/receiver for communicating
an identification signal unique to a single badge, and the current state
of the badge; patient bed beacons, each associated with a different
respective patient bed, each bed beacon capable of wirelessly
communicating with said badges; dispenser beacons, each associated with a
sanitization dispenser, and having a transmitter/receiver capable of
wirelessly communicating with said badges; and wherein a dispenser beacon
causes a badge to change from the second-state to the first-state when
the person has performed a sanitization procedure at a sanitization
dispenser, and wherein a badge in a first-state changes to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to a second patient bed
beacon different from a first patient bed beacon at which the user was
previously located without having performed a sanitization procedure at a
dispenser during movement between the respective beds associated with the
first and second patient beds, and transmits a status signal indicating
such badge state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal.

25. A sanitization compliance monitoring system for a health care
environment having patient beds, comprising: badges wearable by persons,
said badges having indicia representing a first-state indicating whether
a person is equipped with a required risk-control item, and a
second-state indicating the absence of the required risk-control item by
the person; bed beacons associated with a patient, which enable selective
activation of at least one risk-control item that is required to be work
by a person coming within a certain proximity of the patient, said bed
beacon also having a sensor which detects whether a person coming within
the certain proximity zone is equipped with the required risk-control
item, and transmits a signal to the person's badge to change the badge
from the first-state to the second-state if the required risk-control
item is not sensed.

26. A sanitization compliance monitoring system for a health care
environment having patient beds, comprising: badges wearable by persons,
said badges having indicia representing a first-state indicating a
sanitary compliant condition of the badge-wearer, and a second-state
representing an unsanitary state indicating the badge-wearer's contact
with a second patient after contact with, and different from, a first
patient, said badges also having a wireless transmitter/receiver for
communicating an identification signal unique to a single badge, and the
current state of the badge; patient bed beacons, each associated with a
different respective patient bed, each bed beacon capable of wirelessly
communicating with said badges; dispenser beacons, each associated with a
sanitization dispenser, and having a transmitter/receiver capable of
wirelessly communicating with said badges; and wherein a dispenser beacon
causes a badge to change from the second-state to the first-state when
the badge-wearer has performed a sanitization procedure at a sanitization
dispenser, wherein a badge in said first state changes to the second
state after a certain time period has elapsed without the badge-wearer
performing a sanitization procedure, and wherein a badge in a first-state
changes to said second-state when located in a certain proximity to a
second patient bed beacon different from a first patient bed beacon at
which the user was previously located without having performed a
sanitization procedure at a dispenser during movement between the
respective beds associated with the first and second patient beds, and
transmits a status signal indicating such badge state change to the
patient bed beacon with the badge identification signal.

27. A sanitization compliance monitoring system for a health care
environment having patient beds, comprising: badges wearable by persons,
said badges having indicia representing a first-state indicating a
sanitary compliant condition of the person, a second-state representing a
cautionary state indicating the person's contact with a first patient,
and a third-state representing an unsanitary state indicating the
person's contact with a second patient after contact with, and different
from, a first patient, said badges also having a wireless
transmitter/receiver for communicating an identification signal unique to
a single badge, and the current state of the badge; patient bed beacons,
each associated with a different respective patient bed, each bed beacon
capable of wirelessly communicating with said badges; dispenser beacons,
each associated with a sanitization dispenser, and having a
transmitter/receiver capable of wirelessly communicating with said
badges; and wherein a badge in said first-state changes to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed beacon,
and transmits a status change signal indicating such
first-to-second-state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal, wherein a badge in said second-state changes to
said third-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed
beacon different from the patient bed beacon which caused the badge to
change from the first-state to the second-state, and transmits a status
signal indicating such second-to-third-state change to the patient bed
beacon with the badge identification signal, wherein a dispenser beacon
causes a badge to change from the second-state or third-state to the
first-state when the person has performed a sanitization procedure at a
sanitization dispenser beacon, and wherein a badge in the first-state
changes to the third-state if the badge leaves the certain proximity to a
patient bed and remains out of that proximity for a certain time period
and re-enters that certain proximity after the certain time period.

28. A sanitization compliance monitoring system for a health care
environment having patient beds, comprising: badges wearable by persons,
said badges having indicia representing a first-state indicating a
sanitary compliant condition of the badge-wearer, a second-state
representing a cautionary state indicating the badge-wearer's contact
with a first patient, and a third-state representing an unsanitary state
indicating the badge-wearer's contact with a second patient after contact
with, and different from, a first patient, said badges also having a
wireless transmitter/receiver for communicating an identification signal
unique to a single badge, and the current state of the badge; patient bed
beacons, each associated with a different respective patient bed, each
bed beacon capable of wirelessly communicating with said badges;
dispenser beacons, each associated with a sanitization dispenser, and
having a transmitter/receiver capable of wirelessly communicating with
said badges; and wherein a badge in said first-state changes to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed beacon,
and transmits a status change signal indicating such
first-to-second-state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal, wherein a badge in said second-state changes to
said third-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed
beacon different from the patient bed beacon which caused the badge to
change from the first-state to the second-state, and transmits a status
signal indicating such second-to-third-state change to the patient bed
beacon with the badge identification signal, wherein a dispenser beacon
causes a badge to change from the second-state or third-state to the
first-state when the badge-wearer has performed a sanitization procedure
at a sanitization dispenser beacon, and wherein a badge in the
second-state changes to the third-state after a certain time period has
elapsed without the badge-wearer performing a sanitization procedure.

29. A sanitization compliance monitoring system for a health care
environment having monitored equipment which poses a risk of
contamination, comprising: badges wearable by persons, said badges having
indicia representing a first-state indicating a sanitary compliant
condition of the person, and a second-state representing an unsanitary
state indicating the person's contact with a monitored equipment, said
badges also having a wireless transmitter/receiver for communicating an
identification signal unique to a single badge, and the current state of
the badge; monitored equipment beacons, each associated with a different
item of monitored equipment, each bed beacon capable of wirelessly
communicating with said badges; dispenser beacons, each associated with a
sanitization dispenser, and having a transmitter/receiver capable of
wirelessly communicating with said badges; and wherein a dispenser beacon
causes a badge to change from the second-state to the first-state when
the person has performed a sanitization procedure at a sanitization
dispenser, and wherein a badge in a first-state changes to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to an item of monitored
equipment and transmits a status signal indicating such badge state
change to the monitored equipment beacon with the badge identification
signal.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority on provisional application U.S.
Ser. No. 61/437,466 filed Jan. 28, 2011, and provisional application U.S.
Ser. No. 61/486,491 filed May 16, 2011, both of which are incorporated by
reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a sanitization compliance
monitoring system for a health care environment such as a hospital or
nursing home, and particularly to a system to specifically target the
hygienic state of a caregiver when interacting with a patient located in
a patient bed.

[0003] The term, "sanitization" as used herein, refers to using sanitizer,
or performing a hand-wash procedure. The handwash procedure may be
preferred using a sink and dispenser, including of the type disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,701 to Levy, which is incorporated herein by
reference. The handwash procedure monitored may be of the procedure
disclosed in the Levy patent.

[0004] Sanitization compliance monitoring systems attempt to reduce or
eliminate the number of occurrences of pathogens transferred from one
patient to another via care givers in a health care environment. However,
the systems do not fully monitor the sanitization state of the care giver
based on his or her interaction with patients and sanitization procedures
performed by the care giver.

[0005] As used herein, the terms, "care giver", "health care provider",
and "user", are intended to be synonymous, and include any persons in a
health care environment having the potential to spread pathogens,
bacteria, etc., including not only doctors, nurses, orderlies and the
like, but also custodians, maintenance and other personnel, and food
personnel, etc., and any others who are in a health care facility,
including other patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In one form, the invention relates to monitoring whether a
healthcare provider user has washed or sanitized his hands in a
healthcare facility where the provider has exposure to different
patients. The provider user would wear a badge which has three different
colored lights to indicate cleanliness state of the hands of the wearer
of the badge, red=contaminated (exposure to two or more different
patients after a handwash), yellow=caution (exposure to only one patient
after a handwash) and green=sanitized (exposure to no patients after a
handwash). The yellow or caution state may indicate that the user should
sanitize/wash within a certain time period.

[0007] Each patient bed would have an associated bed beacon which
wirelessly communicates with a badge within a close range, to detect the
identity of the badge, and to detect and change the badge's state (from
green to yellow, or from yellow to red).

[0008] Each handwash or sanitizer station would have an associated
handwash beacon to wirelessly communicate with a badge when in close
proximity, to detect the badges identity, and to detect and change the
badge state (from yellow or red, to green after a handwash procedure).

[0009] Whenever a user washes his hands at a handwash or sanitizer
station, the handwash beacon would detect the badge identity and state,
and the handwash beacon would cause the badge state to reset to green
(from yellow or red).

[0010] If a user gets near a patient bed, the bed beacon would detect the
badge identity and state, and the bed beacon would cause a green badge
state to change to yellow, and if already in yellow because of earlier
close proximity to a different patient bed beacon without an interim
handwash, the bed beacon would cause the badge state to change from
yellow to red.

[0011] The bed and dispenser beacons can communicate with a central
monitoring unit which date stamps the communications received, and knows
each of the badges' identities and when each badge changes from one state
to another, to monitor the compliance of each badge wearer.

[0012] An audible alert may be triggered by the following:

[0013] (1) a
non-compliant event which triggers the audible alert to activate
continuously at certain intervals until a compliance event occurs (wash,
sanitize); and

[0014] (2) when exiting a bed proximity boundary, the
audible alert will activate one time reminding/warning the care giver
that a compliant event needs to occur.

[0015] The objective of the badge wearer is to never reach a
red=contaminated state. If a user is in a yellow state, indicating a
single patient exposure, as soon as he leaves that patient he should wash
and get his badge changed from yellow to green, and not come close to a
different patient and reach red.

[0016] The dispenser beacon, which may be attached to a manual or
touch-free dispenser, will set the care giver badge to the compliant
state when activated. The dispenser beacon may be provided with
functional status LEDs as follows:

[0017] Green: one blink when
speaking to a badge

[0018] Red: two blinks means dead battery, one blink,
low battery

[0019] Red/Green: failed to communicate to the badge

[0020] The dispenser beacon may be provided with a buzzer (Piezo), which
is triggered by a successful transaction with the care giver.

[0021] The bed antenna of the bed beacon defines the proximity
threshold/boundary of the care giver's badge around the bed, while the
beacon communicates with the badge. The beacon will recognize when a care
giver has entered or is within the proximity boundary, and trigger a
patient contact event. It will then determine the badge's current
compliant state. At this point, one of the following will occur:

[0022]
If the care giver badge is in the compliant (green) state, entering the
proximity boundary will change the badge to a cautionary state
(green-to-yellow).

[0023] If the badge is in a cautionary (yellow) state,
entering the proximity boundary will change the badge to a non-compliant
red state. The beacon buzzer will activate (yellow-to-red).

[0024] If the
badge is already in a non-compliant (red) state, and the care giver
enters the proximity boundary, the beacon buzzer will activate indicating
a hyper-non-compliant state.

[0025] Every event will be recorded in a real-time basis. Each event will
include the following data: time/date stamp; user's identification;
beacon's identification; event type; battery status; badge; location of
beacon; and location of dispenser.

[0026] All events recorded will be delivered to an off-site server. This
data can be assessed by an Application Program Interface (API) raw data,
or by web-based software (proprietary or non-proprietary).

[0027] The invention may include Hand Hygiene and Supply/Logistics
Management Program.

[0028] The Supply/Logistics Management Program is a software system
designed to assist users with the real-time analysis of hand hygiene
practices and the overall management of dispenser usage throughout any
facility. By inputting some basic installation information, a user will
be able to know who is washing, where they are washing, and when they
washed; know when a care giver is compliant, non-compliant, or about to
be non-compliant; know when the batteries need to be replaced; know when
a dispenser is not being used; be able to forecast chemical usage per
dispenser, location, product, etc.; provide analytical reports of sales
of the following: client name; city or state; facility location (floor,
room, etc.); unit type; product type (lotion or foam); product name; and
care giver (doctor, nurse, therapist, etc.).

[0029] The invention contemplates providing the user with an accessible
website by which the user can set up the system and set up interface
links.

[0030] Some advantages of the system may include:

[0031] Effective
reminder system that can be used with and without badge (group vs.
compliance monitoring);

[0040] The present invention may use one or more of the features disclosed
in co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 12/150,223, filed Apr. 25, 2008; Ser. No.
12/560,250, filed Sep. 15, 2009; Ser. No. 12/684,019, filed Jan. 7, 2010;
and/or, Ser. No. 12/684,034, filed Jan. 7, 2010, all of which are
incorporated herein by reference.

[0041] The present invention provides a sanitization compliance monitoring
system for a health care environment having patient beds, comprising:
badges wearable by persons, said badges having indicia representing a
first-state indicating a sanitary compliant condition of the person, a
second-state representing a cautionary state indicating the person's
contact with a first patient, and a third-state representing an
unsanitary state indicating the person's contact with a second patient
after contact with, and different from, a first patient, said badges also
having a wireless transmitter/receiver for communicating an
identification signal unique to a single badge, and the current state of
the badge; patient bed beacons, each associated with a different
respective patient bed, each bed beacon having a transmitter/receiver
capable of wirelessly communicating with said badges; dispenser beacons,
each associated with a sanitization dispenser, and having a
transmitter/receiver capable of wirelessly communicating with said
badges; and wherein a badge in said first-state changes to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed beacon,
and transmits a status change signal indicating such
first-to-second-state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal; wherein a badge in said second-state changes to
said third-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed
beacon different from the patient bed beacon which caused the badge to
change from the first-state to the second-state, and transmits a status
signal indicating such second-to-third-state change to the patient bed
beacon with the badge identification signal, and wherein a dispenser
beacon causes a badge to change from the second-state or third-state to
the first-state when the person has performed a sanitization procedure at
a sanitization dispenser beacon.

[0042] The system may further include a central unit for wirelessly
communication with patient bed beacons, and wherein a patient bed beacon
transmits the identification signal of the badge, and the current state
of the badge, to the central unit, in response to the badge coming into a
certain proximity with a patient bed beacon.

[0043] The system may further include a central unit for wirelessly
communication with patient bed beacons, and wherein a dispenser beacon
transmits the identification signal of the badge, and the current state
of the badge, to the central unit, in response to the badge coming into
proximity with a dispenser beacon.

[0044] The badges' indicia may comprise three different color lights
respectively representing the first-, second-, and third-states. The
badges may include an audio beeper in response to the dispenser beacon
causing a change in the badge state from a second- or third-state to a
first-state.

[0045] The system may provide, in response to a badge coming in close
proximity to a dispenser beacon, that the badge transmitter/receiver and
the dispenser transmitter/receiver increase their respective
transmitter/receiver ranges to permit communication over a wider
communication-range, and wherein the respective badge and dispenser
beacon lock communication to the exclusion of other badges and dispenser
beacons, until communication between the badge and dispenser beacon is
complete.

[0046] The system may provide, in response to a badge coming in close
proximity to a bed beacon, that the badge transmitter/receiver and the
bed beacon transmitter/receiver increase their respective
transmitter/receiver ranges to permit communication over a wider
communication-range, and wherein the respective badge and bed beacon lock
communication to the exclusion of other badges and bed beacons, until
communication between the badge and bed beacon is complete.

[0047] The system may provide, that a badge in a second-state changes to
the third-state if the badge leaves the certain proximity to a patient
bed and remains out of that proximity for a certain time period and
re-enters that certain proximity after the certain time period.

[0048] The system may provide, that a badge in the first-state changes to
the second-state after a certain time period has elapsed without the
badge-wearer performing a sanitization procedure.

[0049] The system may provide, that a badge in the second-state changes to
the third-state after a certain time period has elapsed without the
badge-wearer performing a sanitization procedure.

[0050] The present invention provides a method for monitoring sanitization
compliance for a health care environment having patient beds, comprising:
providing badges wearable by persons, said badges having indicia
representing a first-state indicating a sanitary compliant condition of
the person, a second-state representing a cautionary state indicating the
person's contact with a first patient, and a third-state representing an
unsanitary state indicating the person's contact with a second patient
after contact with, and different from, a first patient, said badges also
having a wireless transmitter/receiver for communicating an
identification signal unique to a single badge, and the current state of
the badge; providing patient bed beacons, each associated with a
different respective patient bed, each bed beacon capable of wirelessly
communicating with said badges; providing dispenser beacons, each
associated with a sanitization dispenser, and having a
transmitter/receiver capable of wirelessly communicating with said
badges; changing the state of a badge from said first-state to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed beacon,
and transmitting a status change signal indicating such
first-to-second-state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal; changing the state of a badge from said
second-state to said third-state when located in a certain proximity to a
patient bed beacon different from the patient bed beacon which caused the
badge to change from the first-state to the second-state, and
transmitting a status signal indicating such second-to-third-state change
to the patient bed beacon with the badge identification signal; changing
the status of a badge from the second-state or third-state to the
first-state when the person has performed a sanitization procedure at a
sanitization dispenser.

[0051] The method may include wirelessly communicating with a central
unit, and wherein a patient bed beacon transmits the identification
signal of the badge, and the current state of the badge, to the central
unit, in response to the badge coming within a certain proximity with a
patient bed beacon.

[0052] The method may include wirelessly communicating with a central
unit, and wherein a dispenser beacon transmits the identification signal
of the badge, and the current state of the badge, to the central unit, in
response to the badge coming within a certain proximity with a dispenser
beacon.

[0053] The method may comprise illuminating badges' indicia with three
different color lights respectively representing the first-, second-, and
third-states.

[0054] The method may comprise generating an audio signal by a badge in
response to the dispenser beacon causing a change in the badge state from
a second- or third-state to a first-state.

[0055] The method may comprise, in response to a badge coming in a certain
proximity to a dispenser beacon, that the badge transmitter/receiver and
the dispenser transmitter/receiver increase their respective
transmitter/receiver ranges to permit communication over a wider
communication-range, and wherein the respective badge and dispenser
beacon lock communication to the exclusion of other badges and dispenser
beacons, until communication between the badge and dispenser beacon is
complete.

[0056] The method may comprise, in response to a badge coming in close
proximity to a bed beacon, that the badge transmitter/receiver and the
bed beacon transmitter/receiver increase their respective
transmitter/receiver ranges to permit communication over a wider
communication-range, and wherein the respective badge and bed beacon lock
communication to the exclusion of other badges and bed beacons, until
communication between the badge and bed beacon is complete.

[0057] The method may comprise, that a badge in a second-state changes to
the third-state if the badge leaves the certain proximity to a patient
bed and remains out of that proximity for a certain time period and
re-enters that certain proximity after the certain time period.

[0058] The method may comprise, that a badge in the first-state changes to
the second-state after a certain time period has elapsed without the
badge-wearer performing a sanitization procedure.

[0059] The method may comprise, wherein a badge in the second-state
changes to the third-state after a certain time period has elapsed
without the badge-wearer performing a sanitization procedure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of various components according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0064] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing examples of user badge hygienic state
and patient interaction;

[0065] FIG. 5 is a view of a bed beacon;

[0066] FIG. 6 is a screenshot of a software program, with instructions for
installing, modifying, or checking the status of the system;

[0067] FIG. 7 is a screenshot of monitoring data of dispense events of an
installed system;

[0068] FIG. 8 is a screenshot of a display of menu items for setting or
changing parameters of the system; and

[0069] FIG. 9 is a display of the dashboard of the system, showing soap
and sanitizer used at various dispenser locations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0070] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
will be provided, but the invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0071] The present invention provides a sanitization compliance monitoring
system for a health care environment having patient beds, comprising:
badges wearable by persons, said badges having indicia representing a
first-state indicating a sanitary compliant condition of the person, a
second-state representing a cautionary state indicating the person's
contact with a first patient, and a third-state representing an
unsanitary state indicating the person's contact with a second patient
after contact with, and different from, a first patient, said badges also
having a wireless transmitter/receiver for communicating an
identification signal unique to a single badge, and the current state of
the badge; patient bed beacons, each associated with a different
respective patient bed, each bed beacon having a transmitter/receiver
capable of wirelessly communicating with said badges; dispenser beacons,
each associated with a sanitization dispenser, and having a
transmitter/receiver capable of wirelessly communicating with said
badges; and wherein a badge in said first-state changes to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed beacon,
and transmits a status change signal indicating such
first-to-second-state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal; wherein a badge in said second-state changes to
said third-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed
beacon different from the patient bed beacon which caused the badge to
change from the first-state to the second-state, and transmits a status
signal indicating such second-to-third-state change to the patient bed
beacon with the badge identification signal, and wherein a dispenser
beacon causes a badge to change from the second-state or third-state to
the first-state when the person has performed a sanitization procedure at
a sanitization dispenser beacon.

[0072] The system may further include a central unit for wirelessly
communication with patient bed beacons, and wherein a patient bed beacon
transmits the identification signal of the badge, and the current state
of the badge, to the central unit, in response to the badge coming into a
certain proximity with a patient bed beacon.

[0073] The system may further include a central unit for wirelessly
communication with patient bed beacons, and wherein a dispenser beacon
transmits the identification signal of the badge, and the current state
of the badge, to the central unit, in response to the badge coming into
proximity with a dispenser beacon.

[0074] The badges' indicia may comprise three different color lights
respectively representing the first-, second-, and third-states. The
badges may include an audio beeper in response to the dispenser beacon
causing a change in the badge state from a second- or third-state to a
first-state.

[0075] The system may provide, in response to a badge coming in close
proximity to a dispenser beacon, that the badge transmitter/receiver and
the dispenser transmitter/receiver increase their respective
transmitter/receiver ranges to permit communication over a wider
communication-range, and wherein the respective badge and dispenser
beacon lock communication to the exclusion of other badges and dispenser
beacons, until communication between the badge and dispenser beacon is
complete.

[0076] The system may provide, in response to a badge coming in close
proximity to a bed beacon, that the badge transmitter/receiver and the
bed beacon transmitter/receiver increase their respective
transmitter/receiver ranges to permit communication over a wider
communication-range, and wherein the respective badge and bed beacon lock
communication to the exclusion of other badges and bed beacons, until
communication between the badge and bed beacon is complete.

[0077] The system may provide, that a badge in a second-state changes to
the third-state if the badge leaves the certain proximity to a patient
bed and remains out of that proximity for a certain time period and
re-enters that certain proximity after the certain time period.

[0078] The system may provide, that a badge in the first-state changes to
the second-state after a certain time period has elapsed without the
badge-wearer performing a sanitization procedure.

[0079] The system may provide, that a badge in the second-state changes to
the third-state after a certain time period has elapsed without the
badge-wearer performing a sanitization procedure.

[0080] The present invention provides a method for monitoring sanitization
compliance for a health care environment having patient beds, comprising:
providing badges wearable by persons, said badges having indicia
representing a first-state indicating a sanitary compliant condition of
the person, a second-state representing a cautionary state indicating the
person's contact with a first patient, and a third-state representing an
unsanitary state indicating the person's contact with a second patient
after contact with, and different from, a first patient, said badges also
having a wireless transmitter/receiver for communicating an
identification signal unique to a single badge, and the current state of
the badge; providing patient bed beacons, each associated with a
different respective patient bed, each bed beacon capable of wirelessly
communicating with said badges; providing dispenser beacons, each
associated with a sanitization dispenser, and having a
transmitter/receiver capable of wirelessly communicating with said
badges; changing the state of a badge from said first-state to said
second-state when located in a certain proximity to a patient bed beacon,
and transmitting a status change signal indicating such
first-to-second-state change to the patient bed beacon with the badge
identification signal; changing the state of a badge from said
second-state o said third-state when located in a certain proximity to a
patient bed beacon different from the patient bed beacon which caused the
badge to change from the first-state to the second-state, and
transmitting a status signal indicating such second-to-third-state change
to the patient bed beacon with the badge identification signal; changing
the status of a badge from the second-state or third-state to the
first-state when the person has performed a sanitization procedure at a
sanitization dispenser.

[0081] The method may include wirelessly communicating with a central
unit, and wherein a patient bed beacon transmits the identification
signal of the badge, and the current state of the badge, to the central
unit, in response to the badge coming within a certain proximity with a
patient bed beacon.

[0082] The method may include wirelessly communicating with a central
unit, and wherein a dispenser beacon transmits the identification signal
of the badge, and the current state of the badge, to the central unit, in
response to the badge coming within a certain proximity with a dispenser
beacon.

[0083] The method may comprise illuminating badges' indicia with three
different color lights respectively representing the first-, second-, and
third-states.

[0084] The method may comprise generating an audio signal by a badge in
response to the dispenser beacon causing a change in the badge state from
a second- or third-state to a first-state.

[0085] The method may comprise, in response to a badge coming in a certain
proximity to a dispenser beacon, that the badge transmitter/receiver and
the dispenser transmitter/receiver increase their respective
transmitter/receiver ranges to permit communication over a wider
communication-range, and wherein the respective badge and dispenser
beacon lock communication to the exclusion of other badges and dispenser
beacons, until communication between the badge and dispenser beacon is
complete.

[0086] The method may comprise, in response to a badge coming in close
proximity to a bed beacon, that the badge transmitter/receiver and the
bed beacon transmitter/receiver increase their respective
transmitter/receiver ranges to permit communication over a wider
communication-range, and wherein the respective badge and bed beacon lock
communication to the exclusion of other badges and bed beacons, until
communication between the badge and bed beacon is complete.

[0087] The method may comprise, that a badge in a second-state changes to
the third-state if the badge leaves the certain proximity to a patient
bed and remains out of that proximity for a certain time period and
re-enters that certain proximity after the certain time period.

[0088] The method may comprise, that a badge in the first-state changes to
the second-state after a certain time period has elapsed without the
badge-wearer performing a sanitization procedure.

[0089] The method may comprise, wherein a badge in the second-state
changes to the third-state after a certain time period has elapsed
without the badge-wearer performing a sanitization procedure.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 will consist of wireless care
giver badges 12, wireless dispenser beacons 14 associated with
sanitization dispensers 14a, and wireless patient bed beacons 16
associated with beds 16a. The badges 12 and beacons 14, 16, will
communicate via embedded 125 kHz low frequency magnetic coupled (LFMC)
radio transceivers. All devices will be battery powered. Event telemetry
will be conveyed by the beacons to a central unit CU with an offsite
event database via a separate 433 MHz wireless network (WiNET). The
network transceivers will be embedded within the dispenser and patient
bed beacons.

[0091] The care giver badge 12 will maintain and store the current
hygienic state of its user. The user's hygienic state will be made
visible to the user, and anyone able to see the user's badge 16, via LEDs
located on the badges 12. There are three states supported by the badge
2, a first state of compliant (green LED), a second state of cautionary
(yellow LED), and third state of noncompliant (red LED). FIG. 1A shows a
badge 12 with green LED 12G, yellow LED 12Y, and red LED 12R.

[0092] The badge also has solace for the wearer's name and/or other
indicia such as title or position (doctor, nurse, orderly, etc.) and/or
department (medical, maintenance, food service, etc), which further
identify the badge wearer to patients and other hospital personnel.
Electronic data representing this information may also be transmitted
between the badge, bed beacons and dispenser beacons. The badge 12 also
has a beeper or acoustic transducer 12B, and a transmitter/receiver
12T/R, with appropriate electronics. The beeper 12B may transmit
different sounds depending on the state of the badge, and the title or
department, etc., as well as the number of recent or total times the
wearer has experienced a "red" status. The different sound may be a
difference in frequency, duration, warbling, etc. For wearers who
frequently get a "red" status, for whom the sound may be distinctive, the
patients or other persons will know that the wearer is a frequent
violator and be extra cautious about contact with such wearer.

[0093] The bed beacon also has a transmitter/receiver 16 T/R. The
dispenser beacon also has a transmitter/receiver 14T/R. The badge, bed
beacon and dispenser beacon have appropriate electronic circuitry, such
as microprocessors or controllers, with memory and control programs, to
perform the functions described herein.

[0094] The user's badge 12 is set to the compliant state when a sanitation
event occurs. A sanitation event will occur when the user activates a
dispenser 14a to dispense soap or sanitizer on their hands. The user's
badge 12 is set to the noncompliant state when an unsanitary event
occurs. An unsanitary event wilt occur when the user has contact with one
patient and then has contact with a different patient without a
sanitation event occurring in-between. The user's badge 12 is set to the
cautionary state when they come in contact with a patient after having a
prior sanitation event. This is not a noncompliant state, but, instead
warns the user that a sanitary event needs to occur. If a sanitary event
does not occur within 5 minutes, for example, after leaving a patient,
the user's badge will set itself into the noncompliant state and thus
generate an unsanitary event.

[0095] The dispenser beacon 14 is physically attached to a dispenser 14a
via a cable that will provide the beacon with power, if the dispenser is
battery-operated, and a signal indicating when the dispenser has been
activated. As shown in FIG. 2, when a user activates the dispenser 14a,
the beacon will detect the activation and send a polling message
containing its unique ID and having an effective range, or proximity
radius of 24'' to 32'', for example, (as shown by the dotted circles in
FIG. 1). The user's badge, being within the aforementioned radius, will
quickly reply by sending the dispenser beacon its identification number
(ID) and current hygienic state. After the user's badge has sent its
reply, it will set itself into the compliant state, store the unique ID
of the dispenser beacon and create an audible beep to inform the user
that the transaction is complete. When the dispenser activation is
complete, the dispenser beacon will time and date stamp the sanitary
event and send it along with the badge's ID and prior hygienic state an
offsite database via the WiNET wireless network.

[0096] The patient bed beacon will be physically attached to the patient
bed and have an antenna that a) uses an insulated conductor to form a
loop around the perimeter of the bed or b) uses a coil to inductively
couple to the bed's metal frame without being in physical contact with
the bed's metal frame. As shown in FIG. 3, the bed beacon will send a
polling message containing its unique ID once every 1 to 5 seconds, for
example. If a user's badge is within about 24'' of the bed's perimeter
(as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1), it will receive the polling
message, store the bed beacon's ID and wait a random length of time to
reply with its ID, hygienic state and the ID of the last dispenser used.
Waiting a random length of time before replying to the bed beacon will
reduce message collisions with any other badges approaching the bed at
the same time. When the bed beacon 16 receives the user's badge ID, state
and the ID of the last dispenser used, the transaction will be complete.

[0097] The bed beacon will continue to broadcast a polling message at
regular intervals. The user's badge will receive the polling message and
compare the received bed beacon's ID to the stored bed beacon ID. If they
match, the user's badge will not reply. This will give other user's
badges a chance to communicate and extend the badge's battery life.

[0098] Some hospitals require that care givers use dispensers inside the
patient's room or in the hallway just outside of the patient's room
before coming in contact with the patient. The bed beacon 16 can
optionally be programmed with up to five, for example, dispenser IDs.
These dispensers would be located within the patient's room or in the
hallway just outside the patent's room. If programmed, and the user's
badge is in a compliant state, the bed beacon will compare the programmed
IDs with the ID of the dispenser last used by the badge wearer. If there
is a match, the bed beacon 16 will instruct the user's badge to set
itself to the cautionary state. Otherwise, the bed beacon 16 will
instruct the badge to set itself to the noncompliant state. Programming
the bed beacon 16 with the ID of the dispenser(s) in or near the
patient's room, will require the badge wearer to use one of these
dispensers for compliant patient contact. If the bed beacon is not
programmed with dispenser IDs and the badge is in the compliant state,
the bed beacon will instruct the user's badge to set itself to the
cautionary state. This allows the badge wearer to use any dispenser for
compliant patient contact. If the user's badge is in the cautionary state
due to prior interaction with a different patient bed, the beacon will
instruct the badge to set itself to the noncompliant state regardless of
whether there are dispenser IDs programmed into the beacon or not.

[0099] When the transaction between the user's badge and the bed beacon is
complete, the bed beacon will time and date stamp the patient contact
event and send it along with the badge's ID, prior hygienic state and
current hygienic state to the offsite database via the WiNET wireless
network.

[0100] If other user badges are within range of the bed beacon, they will
each wait for the next polling message from the beacon and reply after a
random length of time. The first user badge to reply will transact with
the bed beacon. All other user badges will wait for the next polling
message after the current transaction is complete. This will continue
until all user badges, within range of the bed beacon, have transacted.

[0101] A more detailed description of the operation of the above-described
system follows, and will describe the general logic of how a dispenser, a
care giver badge and a patient bed beacon will interact to provide a
system of care giver hand hygiene compliance monitoring in a patient care
setting such as a hospital, nursing home or similar facility. The
system's logic will be illustrated using examples of successful and
unsuccessful interactions.

Sanitary Care Giver and Single-Patient Interaction Example

[0102] 1. The care giver activates a sanitization dispenser. The dispenser
does not have to be in patient's room.

[0103] 2. The dispenser will identify itself to the badge and the badge
will set itself to the green state (sanitary state). An audible beep,
from the badge, informs the care giver of the state change and the
badge's green LED will blink about once per second. This event will be
sent to the WiNET remote server via the dispenser beacon as a dispenser
activation event with the dispenser and badge address, time and date. The
badge will remain in the green state until a patient interaction occurs.

[0104] 3. The care giver approaches a patient bed.

[0105] 4. When within approximately 24'' of the patient bed, the badge
will detect the beacon associated with the bed.

[0106] 5. The bed beacon will identify itself to the badge. The badge will
tell the bed beacon that it is in the green state then set itself to the
yellow state (cautionary state) to indicate patient contact. An audible
beep, from the badge, informs the care giver of the state change and the
badge's yellow LED will blink about once per second. This event will be
sent to the WiNET remote server via the bed beacon as a
sanitary/compliant patient interaction event along with the beacon and
badge address, time and date.

[0107] The yellow state will inform the care giver, and anyone who sees
the care giver's badge, that the care giver has been in recent contact
with a patient and is in an unsanitary state. A timeout can be
implemented that will set the badge to a red state (hygiene compliance
violation state) if the badge remains in the yellow state too long
(possibly 5 or 10 minutes, for example).

Unsanitary Care Giver and Single-Patient Interaction Example

[0108] 1. Assume that the care giver's badge is currently in the yellow
state (cautionary state) due to recent interaction with a patient.

[0109] 2. The care giver approaches a patient bed.

[0110] 3. When within approximately 24'' of the patient bed, the badge
will detect the bed's beacon.

[0111] 4. The bed beacon will identify itself to the badge. The badge is
in the yellow state, and the last interaction was with a different
patient (bed beacon), so the badge will immediately set itself to the red
state (hygiene compliance violation state), An audible beep from the
badge, informs the care giver of the state change, and the badge's red
LED will blink about once-per-second. The badge will also produce an
audible alarm beep once-per-second, while in the red state. This event
will be sent to the WiNET remote server via the bed beacon, as an
unsanitary/noncompliant patient interaction event along with the bed
beacon, and badge address, time and date.

[0112] 5. The bed beacon will produce an audible alarm for a
pre-determined period, 30 seconds, for example, after an
unsanitary/non-compliant patient interaction occurs. The badge will
remain in the red state until reset to the green state by activating a
dispenser.

[0113] The red state will inform the care giver and anyone who sees or
hears the care giver's badge, that the care giver has committed a hygiene
compliance violation and needs to activate a dispenser immediately.

[0114] Unsanitary/non-compliant patient interaction events can be
monitored in nearly real-time by other staff members via web based
software connected to the WiNET offsite database. This allows for the
execution of immediate corrective action.

Sanitary Care Giver and Multi-Patient Interaction Example

[0115] 1. Assume that the care giver's badge is currently in the green
state (sanitary state).

[0116] 2. The care giver approaches patient one's bed.

[0117] 3. When within approximately 24'' of patient one's bed, the badge
will detect the bed's beacon.

[0118] 4. The bed beacon will identify itself to the badge. The badge will
tell the bed beacon that it is in the green state then set itself to the
yellow state (cautionary state). An audible beep from the badge informs
the care giver of the state change, and the badge's yellow LED will blink
about once-per-second. This event will be sent to the WiNET remote server
via the bed beacon as a sanitary/compliant patient interaction event
along with the bed beacon, and badge address, time and date.

[0119] 5. When the care giver's interaction with patient one is complete,
the care giver will leave the patient's bed side. The badge will remain
in the yellow state.

[0120] 6. The care giver approaches patient two's bed. Patient two could
be in the same room with patient one or in a different room nearby.

[0121] 7. When within approximately 24'' of patient two's bed, the badge
will detect the bed's beacon.

[0122] 8. The bed beacon will identify itself to the badge. The badge is
in the yellow state, and the last interaction was with a different
patient (bed beacon), so the badge will immediately set itself to the red
state (hygiene compliance violation state). An audible beep from the
badge, informs the care giver of the state change, and the badge's red
LED will blink about once-per-second. The badge will also produce an
audible alarm beep once-per-second while in the red state. This event
will be sent to the WiNET remote server via the bed beacon, as an
unsanitary/noncompliant patient interaction event along with the beacon,
and badge address, time and date.

[0123] 9. When the care giver's interaction with patient two is complete,
the care giver will leave the patient's bed side. The badge will remain
in the red state until reset to the green state by activating a
dispenser.

[0124] 10. The care giver ignores the badge's red state, and approaches
patient three's bed. Patient three could be in the same room with patient
two, or in a different room nearby.

[0125] 11. When within approximately 24'' of the patient three's bed, the
badge will detect the bed's beacon.

[0126] 12. The bed beacon will identify itself to the badge. The badge is
in the red state (hygiene compliance violation state), so the bed beacon
will immediately sound its audible alarm, and the badge will remain in
the red state. The badge's red LED will continue to blink about
once-per-second. The badge will also continue to produce an audible alarm
beep once per second while in the red state. This event will be sent to
the WiNET remote server via the bed beacon as an unsanitary/noncompliant
patient interaction event along with the beacon, and badge address, time
and date.

[0127] The badge will store the address of the last bed beacon it
interacted with. The bed beacon will broadcast its address at
pre-determined intervals, (1 to 5 seconds for example). The badge will
acknowledge the first broadcast it hears and store the address in
temporary memory. Upon receiving subsequent bed beacon broadcast, the
badge will compare the bed beacon's address to the one stored in memory.
If the addresses match, the badge will ignore the broadcast. If the
addresses don't match, the badge will know it is interacting with a
different bed beacon, and will react based on its current state. If in
the yellow state, go to the red state. If in the red state, it will stay
in the red state.

[0128] Unsanitary/non-compliant patient interaction events can be
monitored in nearly real-time by other staff members via web-based
software connected to the WiNET offsite database. This allows for the
execution of immediate corrective action.

[0129] Activating a dispenser will cause the badge to reset itself to the
green state and clear the stored bed beacon's address. While in the green
state, interaction with any bed beacon will cause the badge to go from
the green state to the yellow state, and that bed beacon's address will
be stored.

[0130] The badge and beacons (both bed beacons and dispenser beacons) use
a wireless medium to communicate with each other. As shown in FIGS. 2A
and 3A, the wireless communications, between badges and beacons, may be
separated into two distinct frequency ranges, low frequency (LF) and high
frequency (HF).

[0131] The LF range is used primarily to "wake-up" the badge when it comes
within close proximity of a beacon. The purpose of "waking-up" the badge
is so that the micro controller (μC) (or CPU) can remain in a low
power sleep state until needed. This will extend the life of the badge's
battery. The badge is a mobile device that is worn by a user and
therefore there is an advantage to having it as light weight and compact
as possible. To this end, the battery powering the badge must be small.
The current embodiment of the badge design may use a CR2032 3V lithium
battery with a current capacity of only 200 mAh to 250 mAh.

[0132] The LF receiver may draw as little as between 2 μA and 6 μA
and is able to detect a 125 kHz signal transmitted from a beacon. When a
signal is detected, the receiver activates an input on the badge's μC
which was preprogrammed to cause the μC to "wake-up" from a low power
sleep state. Once awake, the μC then communicates with the receiver to
read the beacon's address (or ID number) that is modulated on the 125 kHz
signal.

[0133] A major advantage of using a LF signal is that its wavelength
(λ) is very long. For 125 kHz, the wavelength is about 2,400 m.
When the antenna's length (or circumference) is short relative to the
signal's wavelength, the electromagnetic field radiated by the antenna is
dominated by the magnetic field at close range. A magnetic field's power,
as it propagates through space, will dissipate at a rate of 1/r6
where r=distance. A HF electromagnetic field such as RF will dissipate at
a rate of 1/r2 and thus propagates farther through space with a much
slower dissipation rate. Therefore, the rapid dissipation of a magnetic
field makes it well suited for creating a distinct and predictable
proximity boundary around a patient bed or dispenser that is similar to a
wall. The boundary range can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the
current flowing through their respective LF loop antennae.

[0134] Once a badge has crossed within a patent bed's proximity boundary,
it will detect the bed beacon's transmitted signal, wake-up and then read
the bed beacon's address that is modulated on the signal. Now, the badge
needs to send the beacon its address and current sanitary state. It would
be possible for the badge to use LF to transmit this information but
there are two reasons not to. First, a LF antenna needs to be designed to
either transmit (series LCR tuned circuit) or receive (parallel LCR tuned
circuit) to maximize efficiency. This would require two antennae for both
the badge and the beacon which would add extra weight, size and cost to
the badge.

[0135] Second, the LF magnetic field has limited range. This is good for
proximity detection but it isn't good for data communication. The badge's
user may wander away from the patient bed's proximity boundary before the
full exchange of data between the badge and beacon is complete,
especially if the user is standing near the proximity boundary. The
problem is even more likely when using a dispenser as the user will
activate the dispenser and then immediately walk away.

[0136] To increase reliability of data communication beyond initial
proximity detection, the badge will switch to HF to complete the
transaction with a beacon. The HF signal has a much longer range allowing
the badge to communicate with a beacon even if the user is 10 or 20 feet
away from the beacon. The high frequency signal also has a short
wavelength so a bidirectional antenna can be etch into the copper of the
circuit board with no additional cost or weight added to the badge or
beacons. In the current embodiment of the badge and beacon designs the HF
signal is at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.

[0137] In addition or in lieu of the badge having three different colored
LEDs to indicate the sanitary state of its wearer, the badge can receive
the identity of the bed, and thus the patient ID or name of the patient
presently occupying the bed. The badge can display the identity of the
bed, the number of the patient, and/or the identity by name of the
patient. The patient, upon seeing the badge, will be able to see this
information on the badge and be assured that the user is sanitary for
that patient. If the user's badge had a green state and entered the bed
region for a certain patient, the badge could display the name of that
patient, the identity of the bed and/or patient number. If the badge
started out yellow (because of contact with a different patient area) or
red, the badge would not change to the present patient's name. The
present patient would thus not see their name on the user's badge, and
could then alert the user to sanitize. Because the user would know that
the patient has an easy way to detect whether the user has been sanitized
for that patient, the user is more apt to comply with the sanitization
protocols.

[0138] FIG. 5 shows a view of a bed beacon, which has a body enclosing
transmitter/receiver and appropriate electronics, as well as an antenna.
The dispenser beacon may look the same, and may be larger or smaller.

[0139] The invention provides additional ways of minimizing risk of
contamination of patients. If a caregiver wearing a badge is within the
bed proximity but crosses over the proximity boundary and leaves the bed
proximity zone for a certain period of time, for example, 5 seconds, an
assumption is made that there is a reasonable likelihood that the
caregiver has contacted a source of contamination (such as a bathroom or
contaminated disposal area) which could pose a contamination risk to a
patient within that bed proximity region. The badge state will then
change from the basic yellow cautionary state to an elevated yellow
cautionary state, still displaying yellow. In this elevated yellow
cautionary state, if the caregiver returns to the same bed proximity
region after that period of time (without sanitizing), the badge state
will change to red, indicating a contamination risk to that patient in
the bed.

[0140] If the caregiver wearing a badge leaves the bed proximity zone, but
returns within the certain period of time (e.g., 5 seconds), it is
assumed that the caregiver has not been exposed to a source of
contamination, and the badge state does not change.

[0141] The mechanism to detect whether the caregiver has traveled and
remained outside the bed proximity zone is the bed beacon which transmits
a periodic bed beacon signal every second or so. The badge, if within the
proximity zone, will receive the periodic bed beacon signal, and will
transmit a signal back indicating that the badge is within the zone.
However, when the badge travels outside the zone, the badge no longer
receives the periodic bed beacon signal, and commences a time count. If,
within the certain maximum safety time period (e.g., 5 seconds) the badge
returns to within the bed proximity zone and again receives the periodic
bed beacon signal, the time count is re-set to zero. But, if the time
count reaches the certain maximum safety time period (e.g., 5 seconds),
with the badge outside the bed proximity zone, the badge state changes to
the elevated, yellow cautionary state. In the same manner as described
above, in this elevated, yellow cautionary state, if the care giver
returns to the same bed proximity region (without sanitizing), the badge
state will change to red, indicating a contamination risk to that
patient.

[0142] In another feature according to the invention, a badge will change
state after the lapse of a certain inactivity time (a time within which a
caregiver has neither been detected within a bed proximity zone, or has
undergone sanitization). If the badge was in the green state, and a
certain inactivity time of 60 minutes, for example, has elapsed, it is
reasonable to assume that the caregiver has had some interaction with a
source of contamination (such as a bathroom or contaminated disposal
area), and the badge will change to yellow. If the badge is in the yellow
state for whatever reason, and a certain inactivity time of 15 minutes,
for example, has elapsed without sanitization (which would re-set the
badge to green), the badge state will change to red.

[0143] The reason for the 60-minute inactivity time to trigger a
green-to-yellow change, but the shorter inactivity time of 15 minutes to
trigger a yellow-to-red change, is based on the assumption that a
caregiver already in the yellow state poses more of a contamination-risk
to bed patients (as well as other patients, caregivers and personnel, as
well as other items or regions) when the caregiver's badge is already
yellow, signifying that the caregiver has already had an exposure to a
bed patient.

[0144] Of course, the 60-minute and 15-minute inactivity time periods can
be changed, and can even be equal. The time periods can be selected based
on the risk (perceived or actual) based on the environment, and even on a
personal badge level, based on the particular caregiver, given his/her
history of compliance and risk. Thus, different caregivers can have
different time periods, depending on their history of compliance and
risk.

[0145] The invention also provides a means of controlling or monitoring
risk of contamination of a patient from a caregiver by monitoring whether
a caregiver has one or more risk-control items, such as a respirator,
mask, gown, gloves, or the like.

[0146] In one example, any particular patient and/or patient bed region
can be selectively defined to require caregivers coming in contact with
the patient/bed to have one or more of these risk-control equipment
items. The bed beacon associated with that patient can have means to
selectively activate what risk-control items are required for that
patient and/or patient bed region. When a caregiver comes into the bed
proximity zone, the bed beacon can detect whether the caregiver has the
items required, by the items themselves having similar badges or other
identification/communication devices associated with these items. For
example, if the caregiver is required to wear, but lacks a mask, the bed
beacon will detect that the mask is missing because it failed to receive
an acknowledgement signal for the mask when the caregiver entered the bed
proximity zone. The bed beacon can then transmit a violation signal to
the caregiver's badge (or separate badge), which will cause the badge to
store and indicate a failure to comply, and the existence of a
risk-situation. Tracking and detection of the risk-control items required
by a caregiver can be done within the existing bed beacon and caregiver
badges discussed above, or by different beacons and badges.

[0147] The invention may be used with equipment other than, or in addition
to, beds, including any piece of equipment associated with patient care
or use, such as wheelchairs, gurneys, recliners, intravenous unit,
rehabilitation equipment, or diagnostic or treatment equipment, or the
like.

[0148] Instead of, or in addition to, monitoring a patient bed or piece of
equipment associated with a patient, the monitored equipment may be a
place or region that poses a risk of contamination, such as a toilet,
refuse container, urinal, bedpan, laundry (soil) area, medication room,
or the like.

[0149] Instead of detecting when a person comes into a contaminated area
or region, one can detect when a person leaves a sanitary area or region,
such as a handwash area, a sanitization area, food preparation, or
service area, intensive care unit (IC), or newborn holding area.

[0150] The state of the badge can be a state indicating an (1) unsanitary
state or condition; (2) a sanitary state; or (3) either an unsanitary or
cautionary state.

[0151] The signal transmitted which indicates the state of the badge,
includes transmitting which transition or change a badge is undergoing,
e.g., red-to-green, green-to-yellow, etc.

[0152] The signal transmitted can indicate the state of the badge and
badge identity, either by data within the signal, or by the manner in
which the signal is transmitted, such as frequency, modulation technique,
or signal conditioning.

[0153] The monitoring system of the invention can also be used to monitor
when equipment, items, or parts of a room, have been sanitized. The badge
can be attached to a sanitizer or disinfectant, such as a bleach product.
The equipment, items, or parts of a room can be equipped with an
associated beacon. The beacon can detect when the badge, and thus,
sanitizer or disinfectant, are within a certain proximity and have thus
sanitized or disinfected the area. The length of time that the badge is
within the certain proximity can be detected and used to determine
whether a proper sanitization or disinfecting has taken place according
to a protocol or procedure. In a variation, the equipment, items, or
parts, could be equipped with a badge, and the sanitizer or disinfectant
could be engaged with a beacon. Even without badges, the system can
detect when a dispenser device has dispensed products, thereby indicating
when equipment, item, or part, or part of a room, has been sanitized.

[0154] Although one preferred embodiment has been described, the invention
is not limited to this embodiment. Variations may be made within the
scope of the invention, and the invention is defined only by way of the
following claims.